Signed Language Interpreting Practices: FAQs
Q: Who must be licensed?
New Mexico requires all signed language interpreters to be licensed in order to protect deaf and hard of hearing consumers. Interpreting is defined as any form of facilitating communication in a visual form, regardless of the individual’s job title or position description.
Q: What are the different types of signed language licenses?
There are three types of licenses issued by the SLIPB:
- Community – for interpreters who are nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) www.rid.org. These interpreters may work in almost any setting (court work requires further credentialing).
- Educational – for interpreters who hold a nationally-recognized educational interpreting credential - the ED: K-12 credential from RID. This license is valid only for K-12 interpreting; never for any community or post-secondary settings.
- Provisional – for interpreters who are working toward certification. This license may be held for up to five years and qualifies the interpreter to work in simple educational and community settings.
NMCDHH Fact Sheet - Interpreter Licensure.pdf
Court Interpreter Standards
There are three levels of court signed language interpreter qualification. They are: Certified: Legal Specialist; Certified: Legal Qualified; Certified: Legal Apprentice. The criteria for each category are on the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Fact Sheet entitled “Court Interpreter Standards” which can be found at www.cdhh.state.nm.us/FactSheets.aspx. Interpreters must meet the established qualifications, pass a background check, and comply with continuing education and credential verification requirements.
Q: What are the Education and Continuing Education Requirements?
Community or educational signed language interpreter license: Current RID membership card documenting compliance with the requirements of the certification maintenance program (CMP) education/continuing education.
The board shall issue a license as a community signed language interpreter to a person who:
- files a completed application that is accompanied by the required fees; and
- submits satisfactory evidence that the person:
- has reached the age of majority;
- is of good moral character;
- has completed all educational requirements established by the board; and
- holds certification under a nationally recognized signed language interpreters
- organization or by an equivalent organization as defined by rule of the board.
The board shall issue a license as an educational signed language interpreter to a person who:
- files a completed application that is accompanied by the required fees; and
- submits satisfactory evidence that the person:
- has reached the age of majority;
- is of good moral character;
- has completed all educational requirements established by the board; and
- provides evidence of passing a skill assessment exam as established by rule.
The board shall issue a one-time, five year provisional license to a person not meeting the community signed language interpreter or educational signed language interpreter requirements for licensure as a signed language interpreter who:
- has completed an interpreter education program or interpreter preparation program; or
- is employed as a community signed language interpreter or an educational signed language interpreter at the time that act becomes effective.
NMCDHH Fact Sheet - Interpreter Education.pdf
Q: How often do I renew my license?
Community signed language interpreter license or an educational signed language interpreter license must be renewed every two years. It expires every two years on September 30th.
Provisional interpreter license must be renewed every year for up to four years. It expires every year on September 30th.
Q: What are the requirements for renewal?
Community signed language interpreter license or an educational signed language interpreter:
- Complete on-line renewal or renewal application provided by the board along with required fees.
- Submit copy of current RID membership card to document compliance with the requirements of the certification maintenance program (CMP). The CMP requires participants earn a minimum of 8.0 CEUs (80 contact hours) during each four-year certification maintenance cycle. Participation in the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) is required of all Certified members of RID, and retention of one’s certificate(s) is dependent upon successful completion of each CMP cycle. For more information click here.
Provisional signed language interpreter license:
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs): You must earn at least 2.0 RID CEUs per year. If you hold your license for less than a full year, you must earn at least .17 CEUs per month that you hold your license. For specific continuing education requirements click here.
- CEU Documentation: The only form of CEU documentation acceptable for renewal is transcripts from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Associate Continuing Education Tracking program (ACET).
Exemptions
The following are statutory exemptions from the licensure requirement:
- nonresident interpreters working in New Mexico less than thirty calendar days per year;
- interpreting in religious or spiritual settings;
- interpreting in informal settings for friends, families or guests;
- interpreting in emergency situations where the deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind person or that person's legal representative decides that the delay necessary to obtain a licensed interpreter is likely to cause injury or loss to the consumer;
- the activities of a supervised interpreter intern or student who is enrolled in an interpreter education program; or
- multilingual interpreting in order to accommodate the personal choice of the consumer.
Q: How do I make a complaint?
There are two different ways to submit a complaint to the board office:
You can follow the instructions on the complaint form and follow these steps:
- Complete the form provided with as much information as possible about the complaint
- List any other people who might have information or knowledge about this situation. Include contact information for each individual
- Sign the form and swear to its truthfulness in the presence of a notary public and have it notarized (you can locate a notary public at any local financial institution or if you are in the Santa Fe area, the Board office also has notary publics as well)
- Forms must be typed or printed legibly and printed on 8 1/2' x 11" paper or they will be returned
- Submit the completed form(s) and supporting documentation to the Board office at the: PO BOX 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Once the Board receives your complaint, the Board will mail an acknowledgement letter to confirm receipt of the complaint
An oral complaint is also accepted with the New Mexico Signed Language Interpreting Practices Board
Ensure when submitting an oral complaint they shall be in an audio, visual or audiovisual format submitted to the Board Administrator.
Once the complaint committee has reviewed the complaint facts and determine there is cause for further investigation, the board will have the complaint translated into written English and entered onto the complaint form provided by Boards and Commissions. Once this is done, the transcripts will be presented to the complainant for clarification and approval.
Onces the complaint is approved, the complainant shall resubmit the signed, notarized complaint to the board office.